species detail

Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina

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Migration Info Swallows and swifts migrate during the day, feeding on the wing as they move to or from their breeding areas. Violet-green Swallows are relatively early spring migrants that tend to follow the coastline or low-elevation features as they travel. Cold snaps that depress insect flight can stall migration; prolonged cold weather can be fatal to swallows, particularly in the Cascade Range, where this species may appear as early as the first week of February. The early migration of this species may be related to the intense competition for nest sites, which are usually tree holes.